The Yankees should give Manny Ramirez the finger. Actually, four of them, every time he steps into the batter's box.

In what can only be compared to one's head feeling better when it no longer is getting banged into concrete, the Yankees continue to challenge the greatest run producer of his generation, who punishes Yankees pitching. It almost seems they are allergic to intentionally walking Ramirez. ...

With two homers and a single when he batted in the seventh, Ramirez had Kyle "The Mop" Farnsworth throw his first pitch, a fastball, behind Ramirez' head. Ramirez eventually grounded out, which produced the loudest roar of the evening. ...

[Alex] Rodriguez' average with runners in scoring position [is now] .067 (1-for-15).

The seventh-inning brushback didn't trigger any brawls, but may prompt grudges, judging by the looks on the faces on the Red Sox bench. Josh Beckett, who beat the Yankees for the second time in less than a week, slowly shook his head afterward, and manager Terry Francona looked pained.

The teams have 13 more games left against each other, the next one July 3 at the Stadium. ...

Farnsworth, often a pariah to those sitting in the stands, was cheered by the 55,088 fans after his pitch went near Ramirez's head.

Farnsworth:

It just slipped. I was trying to be aggressive and go in on him, but the ball slipped on me. ... The ball slipped. Sometimes it's dry. ... Yeah, I heard [the cheers]. It felt good. I hate to have it for that reason, but it's better than the other way.

I am loving how the YES broadcasters would not let it go last night about the brush back. They were calling that Beckett would hit a batter on every at bat. Instead of doing that he just retired 10 in a row. And to show how incredibly suck ass the yankees pitchers are, they couldn't even hit one of the physically biggest guys on our team. And why no warning to the benches after Ellsbury got hit the second time?

I love the nickname "The Mop" for Farnsworth. I absolutely love it. In an era where nicknames are few and far between (compared to the old days), we need to start implementing more nicknames, and Mop Farnsworth just has a certain ring to it.

Gary, I am not sure were you live, but yankee fans and broadcasters have said for years that Manny and Papi are too comfortable in the box.......Yook is a different story this is the first time I really remember one of the yankee pitchers actually throwing at Manny, Besides when Manny thought TCM was trowing at him.......

Pedro used to make it well known when we played the yankees "stay off the plate" .....shit he sent CI to the hospital once if I remember correctly......

Indeed. Last year, a Post columnist pretty much demanded the MFY pitchers drill Ortiz in the head. The fans feel the same way.

Yankee fans love to bring up Pedro hitting Soriano and CI. But what they never ever ever say/admit is BOTH BATTERS SWUNG AT THE PITCHES THAT HIT THEM. One of them (Soriano, I think) struck out on the inside pitch. Those two lean out over the plate as much or more than Yook does.

love the nickname "The Mop" for Farnsworth. I absolutely love it. In an era where nicknames are few and far between (compared to the old days), we need to start implementing more nicknames, and Mop Farnsworth just has a certain ring to it.

So many "nicknames" are like Dougie, Schill, Yook, Paps -- all really original.

So many "nicknames" are like Dougie, Schill, Yook, Paps -- all really original.

ah, true, I guess I should have been more specific when I meant I long for more nicknames like Pudge, Oil Can, Dizzy, etc. :) Schill, Yook, Paps -- definitely great, but all derivative of their existing names. If it were up to me, every player would have a nickname based on their playing ability/reputation.